The Beijing Institute of Technology, funded by CMST (Chinese Ministry of Science & Technology), have developed at least three versions of the BHR (Beijing Humanoid Robot). Despite China’s massive population, the researchers hope the humanoid robots will be able to tackle hazardous work environments in the future.

The BHR-1 was unveiled in 2002, followed by its successor the BHR-2 (nicknamed Huitong) in 2005. Both robots stood 158cm (5’1″) tall, weighed 76kg (167 lbs), and had 32 degrees of freedom. Their wrists and ankle joints were able to rotate a full 360 degrees. They had a battery autonomy of about 30 minutes. Huitong is famous for performing the ancient arts of shadow boxing (Taijiquan), and Tai Chi, and in one demonstration it swung a Chinese broad sword. It can walk approximately 1kmph and can sense changes in ground elevation which it uses to automatically balance itself.

Since then, BIT has unveiled two versions of the BHR-3, nicknamed BeiBei and JingJing. A few photos of the elusive BHR-1 and a video of BHR-2 are tucked after the break.

Sarah Connor: The unknown future rolls toward us.I face it, for the first time, with a sense of hope. Because if a machine,a Terminator, can learn the value of human life, maybe we can too. (Terminator 2)